Shanks Waste Ltd owners of the old Rechem site are preparing a planning application to build a Mechanical- Biological Waste Treatment Plant on the site of the former incinerator.This MBT facility will process and recycle up to 130,000 tonnes of domestic waste from Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.The end product is an inert material which can be used as a fuel or can be sent to land fill.Currently and environmental impact assessment is being undertaken which will look at how the proposal would affect traffic flow, noise levels, smell,site conditions biodiversity etc. MBT processing is a part of the S.E. Wales Strategy for waste recycling and disposal under the EU Landfill Directive. The Company has already held public meetings in New Inn and Panteg and is committed to a process of on-going public consultation during the planning process. What is MBT? It is a refined form of recycling in which domestic waste will be processed to remove metal, glass, stone,plastic and the residue is then aerobically composted to produce an inert material which can be pelleted and used as a fuel in power stations or sent to landfill.The process takes place in a fully enclosed environment(building)ventilated through bio filters to remove any odours. Before planning permission is granted the company would have to demonstrate that such a plant would not have a detrimental impact on the local area and the movement of waste by road transport would be feasible.Watch this space!